ANDREOZZI + FOOTE
SCHOOL SEXUAL ABUSE LAWYER
Reviewed by:
Benjamin D. Andreozzi, Esq.
- Last Updated: July 8, 2025
On This Page
- Why Survivors Choose Andreozzi + Foote As Their School Sexual Abuse Attorney
- Where and How School Sexual Abuse Typically Occurs
- Legally Recognized Types of School Sexual Abuse
- Legal Responsibilities and Common Violations by Schools That Fail to Prevent Sexual Abuse
- How Schools Can Be Held Legally Accountable for Sexual Abuse
- Speak with a School Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Sexual abuse in schools includes any form of unwanted or non-consensual sexual behavior involving students.
RAINN has reported the following statistics, revealing how vulnerable students are:
- One in 9 girls and 1 in 20 boys under 18 experience sexual abuse or assault.
- Two-thirds of victims are between the ages of 12 and 17.
- Females ages 16 to 19 are four times more likely to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault.
At Andreozzi + Foote, we are committed to exposing the institutions that failed to protect students from harm. Our nationally recognized team of trauma-informed attorneys helps survivors and their families hold schools and youth-serving organizations accountable. With decades of combined experience, we fight for truth and justice.
Why Survivors Choose Andreozzi + Foote As Their School Sexual Abuse Attorney
Andreozzi + Foote is one of the nation’s leading law firms exclusively focused on representing survivors of sexual abuse. With over 50 years of combined experience and a proven track record in large-scale institutional cases involving public schools, private academies, boarding schools, and universities, we are uniquely qualified to hold negligent institutions accountable. Our attorneys have successfully handled some of the highest-profile child sexual abuse cases in recent history.
Our trauma-informed, survivor-first approach and deep legal knowledge across jurisdictions and state-specific civil claims set us apart. We create strategies tailored to each survivor’s needs, helping them reclaim their power while pursuing justice.
Where and How School Sexual Abuse Typically Occurs
School sexual abuse is often dismissed or misunderstood. Abuse can happen gradually through trust, manipulation, and coercion, and in many cases doesn’t involve physical contact at all. If something felt wrong, confusing, or controlling, your experience is valid. Recognizing the patterns of abuse is an important step toward healing and justice.
Grooming and Manipulation
Many instances of school sexual abuse begin with grooming, a calculated process where an adult or peer builds trust with a student and gradually violates boundaries. Grooming often includes giving gifts, offering extra attention, or positioning themselves as trustworthy adults or friends. It could look like a teacher giving one-on-one help, sending personal messages, or isolating students from their peers. Over time, this manipulation can make victims feel dependent, silenced, or complicit in the abuse.
Enabling Environments
Certain school environments are more vulnerable to abuse due to a lack of oversight. Locker rooms, school buses, storage closets, teacher offices, field trips, and digital spaces are common places where abuse occurs. Institutions may unknowingly enable abuse through inadequate supervision, outdated technology policies, or unclear reporting procedures. These blind spots create spaces where abuse can continue unchecked.
Emotional and Psychological Abuse
Sexual abuse is not always physical. Many survivors experience emotional control, coercion, or manipulation. It may involve threats, flattery, guilt, or promises of special treatment. Some victims are pressured into silence by fear of retaliation or social isolation. Others may feel confused because the abuse was framed as a relationship or friendship. These forms of psychological and emotional abuse are still deeply harmful and matter just as much as physical acts under the law.
Legally Recognized Types of School Sexual Abuse
School sexual abuse can take many different forms, but all are serious and can have legal repercussions. Survivors do not need to prove physical injury or long-term trauma to be heard, seek protection, or pursue justice. If someone crossed a line, violated your boundaries, or made you feel unsafe, your experience matters. Below are some of the most common types of school sexual abuse that may call for a civil case:
Abuse by Teachers, Coaches, or School Staff
When trusted adults abuse their authority through unwanted touching, coercion, exposure, or sexual contact, it’s not just inappropriate, it’s a violation of the law. Because of the power imbalance, minors can never legally consent to sexual activity with a staff member, regardless of the circumstances. Schools and districts that fail to screen, supervise, or report abusive staff can be held accountable for enabling harm to those in their care.
Peer-on-Peer Sexual Assault
Sexual abuse doesn’t always come from adults. Classmates or older peers can also harm students. A 2023 CDC report found that 1 in 9 high school girls reported being forced to have sex, highlighting the alarming prevalence of peer-on-peer assault. In many cases, schools are legally obligated to protect students from such abuse and respond appropriately under the federal Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and applicable state laws.
Digital Sexual Abuse
Many sexual abuse cases involve sexting, unwanted messages, sexual harassment over apps, or exploitation through school-managed digital platforms like virtual classrooms or email. Whether the abuser is a student or staff member, digital sexual abuse can be deeply harmful and is more commonly being recognized in civil and criminal courts.
Verbal and Non-Contact Sexual Abuse
Abuse isn’t always physical. Inappropriate sexual comments, threats, gestures, jokes, or exposing students to sexual content or behavior can also create a hostile educational environment. Even if there is no physical contact, this type of abuse can cause lasting emotional harm and may still be grounds for legal action.
Legal Responsibilities and Common Violations by Schools That Fail to Prevent Sexual Abuse
Inaction or mishandling of abuse in schools is far too common. Whether through indifference, incompetence, or cover-ups, institutional failures are a common factor in many school sexual abuse cases.
Some of the most common and preventable failures include:
Failure to Report
Every state has mandated reporting laws that require school employees to report suspected abuse. Some schools downplay allegations, delay reporting, or hide concerns to avoid scandal. In some cases, administrators actively discourage students or teachers from speaking out. Failing to report abuse is unethical and may expose the school to civil liability.
Failure to Prevent
Schools are responsible for training staff, enforcing boundaries, and monitoring student safety. But many lack clear sexual misconduct policies or fail to follow the ones they do have. Warning signs are ignored, reports aren’t investigated, and, in some cases, schools transfer abusive staff to new roles or campuses without alerting families, a practice known as “passing the predator.”
Failure to Protect Survivors After Disclosure
When students come forward, the school is legally obligated to protect them from retaliation and offer accommodations such as counseling, class changes, or academic support. Unfortunately, many survivors experience bullying, social isolation, or disciplinary action. Others find that nothing changes, leaving them vulnerable to ongoing trauma.
These Title IX failures are especially common at K-12 schools and universities and tend to deepen the harm instead of helping to heal it.
How Schools Can Be Held Legally Accountable for Sexual Abuse
Survivors of school sexual abuse have powerful legal tools to hold schools accountable, and they don’t have to stay silent. When an institution fails to prevent abuse or respond appropriately, survivors and their families may be able to pursue justice through several paths, including the following:
- Civil Lawsuits: Schools can be sued for negligence when they fail to protect students from known risks. Such failures include:
- Negligent hiring: Failing to properly vet employees
- Negligent supervision: Ignoring red flags or failing to monitor staff and student interactions
- Negligent retention: Keeping employees with known misconduct
- Federal Title IX Claims: Title IX is a federal law that protects students from sex-based discrimination, including sexual harassment and abuse. If a public school, college, or university ignores or mishandles reports of abuse, survivors may be able to file a federal rights claim. These cases can result in institutional penalties, investigations, reforms, and survivor compensation.
Public vs. Private School Liability
Private schools are treated like other private entities and can be sued directly. Public schools may have limited legal immunity in some states, but survivors can often still pursue justice through federal or state law claims.
Time Limits and Survivors’ Rights
Each state has a statute of limitations that sets deadlines for filing abuse claims. However, many states have extended or eliminated time limits for child sexual abuse survivors. Even if the abuse happened years ago, you may still have legal options.
What Legal Action Can Achieve
A successful case isn’t just about compensation. It can help survivors reclaim their power and find closure, expose institutional failures and cover-ups, and prompt significant policy changes that protect future students.
Speak with a School Sexual Abuse Lawyer
You don’t need evidence, certainty, or a plan to reach out. You just need someone who will listen and help you understand your options. At Andreozzi + Foote, we offer free, confidential, no-obligation consultations with experienced school sexual abuse lawyers who understand the sensitivity of these cases and the courage it takes to speak up.
Whether you’re a survivor, parent, or loved one, we’re here to support you with compassion, confidentiality, and professionalism. Contact us today to speak with a trusted attorney.
UNIVERSITY
At Andreozzi + Foote, we stand up for survivors of sexual abuse in schools and universitiesi, holding educational institutions responsible for failing to protect students and fighting for the justice they deserve.
We represent survivors of clergy sexual abuse, holding religious institutions accountable and seeking justice for those who endured harm by trusted leaders within the faith community.
Our firm is committed to helping survivors of human and sex trafficking by pursuing justice against traffickers and organizations, while providing compassionate support to help rebuild lives.
At Andreozzi + Foote, we fight for children harmed in daycare and child care settings, holding caregivers and organizations accountable for their failure to protect vulnerable young lives.
Children are among the most vulnerable individuals in society. Children left without the protection of their natural parents are even more vulnerable.
/SPORTS LEAGUES
We represent survivors of sexual abuse within youth organiations and sport leagues, demanding justice for victims harmed by trusted coaches, mentors, and officials.
Our Experienced attorneys advocate for survivors of sexual abuse at camps, ensuring that negligent organizations and staff are held accountable for violating the safety and trust of children.
At Andreozzi + Foote, we fight for victims of sexual abuse in healthcare settings, holding medical professionals and institutions accountable for exploiting their positions of trust and power
We support survivors of sexual abuse in residential care facilities, striving to hold care providers and institutions accountable for violating the safety and well-being of vulnerable individuals.
Our attorneys are dedicated to seeking justice for nursing home residents who have suffered sexual abuse, holding negligent facilities and staff accountable for mistreating elderly and ulnerable individuals.
CONTACT US TODAY
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Empowering Survivors and Delivering Justice Nationwide
We understand the courage it takes to reach out for help, and we are here to listen. At Andreozzi + Foote, our trauma-informed attorneys are dedicated to providing compassionate, confidential support every step of the way. With extensive experience in advocating for survivors of sexual abuse, we are committed to creating a safe and supportive environment where your voice is heard and your rights are fiercely protected. Contact us today for a free, in-depth consultation and take the first step toward justice.
